Solution Exercise 2
Search the internet to find the WHO arsenic drinking water guideline. For example, this WHO webpage states that the current recommended limit for arsenic in drinking water is 10 μg/L. The arsenic concentration in the well exceeds this limit and, therefore, the water is not considered safe to drink. The well owner should either treat the water to reduce the arsenic level to below 10 μg/L (it is preferred to reduce arsenic levels as low as practical to minimize arsenic exposure) or use another source for drinking water that meets drinking water quality guidelines (e.g., bottled water, a different well, rainwater, treated surface water). To determine if the arsenic concentration in this well meets drinking water guidelines where you live, search the internet to find the drinking water guideline used in your jurisdiction.